Planning a Website Build: 5 Expert Tips to Save Time & Money

Meet Ben

Leveraging 20+ years in web design and online marketing, I aim to provide practical advice for starting and growing a profitable online business.

small business website planning
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At this point you are gearing up to create a website for your small business, that's great!

But here's the truth: many entrepreneurs dive in without proper planning, wasting time and money and leading to frustration.

I've seen it all during my many years as a web designer. From DIY disasters to budget blowouts, the pitfalls of poor planning are all too common. But don't worry – I'm here to help you avoid these traps.

In this guide, we'll tackle the five crucial decisions you must make when planning a website build. By the end, you'll have a clear roadmap to create a site that looks great and drives your business forward.

Let's dive in!

1. DIY or Hire a Pro

The first big decision: should you build the site yourself or hire a professional? It's a question that stumps many small business owners.

A study found that 26% of small businesses don't have a website because it's “too complicated or time-consuming.”

Clutch

DIY can be tempting. It's cheaper, right? Well, not always.

It's like when I decided to convert my classic car's brakes from drum brakes to disc brakes – how hard could it be 🙂 …hard, very hard. I spent many hours and days in the garage.

Your time is valuable, and there's a learning curve.

On the flip side, hiring a pro comes with its own set of challenges:

  • Finding the right designer
  • Communicating your vision
  • Managing the project & budget

Here's my take

Simply, be honest about your skillset. If you're tech-savvy and have the time, DIY can work. Please read on!

Do you struggle with technology, or it confuses you easily? If that sounds like you, consider hiring a pro. The investment can pay off in a polished, effective site that launches on time.

Shameless plug for my web design and online marketing business, if you need a pro.

2. Choosing Your Website Platform

WordPress? Wix? Custom HTML? The choices can make your head spin, because everyone claims their tool is the best.

I encourage you to block all the opinions, ads, voices, and influencers from your head.

The right website platform for you – is the one that markets your business well, is easy for you to administrate, and helps you make a living! That's really the truth.

3 primary website options:

  • Website builders – These are user-friendly platforms that allow you to create websites using pre-made templates and drag-and-drop tools. Examples are Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly.
  • Content management systems (CMS) – These platforms provide more flexibility and control over your website’s content and design. Examples are WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
  • Custom development – Building a website from scratch using programming languages and frameworks. Examples are HTML/CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and Ruby on Rails.

WordPress is my platform of choice

In my years of experience, I've found WordPress to be the sweet spot for most small businesses. It's flexible, scalable, and user-friendly. Plus, with a massive community behind it, help is always at hand.

WordPress powers 43.5% of all websites.

W3Techs

Remember, your platform choice sets the foundation for your entire site. Please choose wisely.

Since we have to focus on one direction – the majority of this website will be focused on building a small business site with WordPress. You won't regret it!

3. Defining Your Website's Purpose

quote lewis carroll

“If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there.”
Lewis Carroll

This quote perfectly sums up the importance of defining your website's purpose. Without a clear goal, you'll end up with a site that looks nice but doesn't drive results.

Ask yourself:

  • Who's my target audience?
  • What action do I want visitors to take?
  • How does this site support my business goals?

Since I'm suggesting you get detailed on these answers, allow me to help you brainstorm:

Target audience

  • Demographics: Age, gender, location, education level, income, interests, and hobbies.
  • Psychographics: Values, beliefs, lifestyle, and behaviors.
  • Needs and pain points: What are their challenges, frustrations, or desires that your business can address?

Objectives of the website

  • Goals: Clearly define what you want your website to accomplish. Is it to increase sales, generate leads, build brand awareness, or provide information?
  • Key performance indicators (KPIs): Determine how you will measure success. This could include website traffic, conversion rates, customer satisfaction, or social media engagement.
  • Call to action: Clearly state what you want visitors to do on your site. This could be making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, contacting you, or sharing your content.

Differentiators

  • Unique selling proposition (USP): What sets your business apart from competitors?
  • Competitive analysis: Research your competitors' strengths and weaknesses to identify areas where you can excel. More on this in the next section.
  • Value proposition: Clearly articulate the benefits that your products or services offer to your target audience.
  • Brand messaging: Develop a consistent brand message that reflects your values and resonates with your audience.

Be specific with your answers and goals.

“Increase sales” is too vague. “Generate 50 qualified leads per month” – now that's a goal we can work with!

4. Study the Competition

Your competitors can be your best teachers. You need to analyze, not imitate.

When I started out, I made the mistake of copying what seemed to work for others. Big mistake. It made my sites blend in instead of stand out.

Here's how to do it right:

  • Visit competitor sites
  • Note what works and what doesn't
  • Identify gaps you can fill

Design and layout research

  • User experience: How easy is it to navigate their site? Does the layout guide the user towards the desired action?
  • Visual appeal: Is their design modern and visually appealing? Does it match their brand identity?
  • Mobile responsiveness: Does their website adapt well to different screen sizes? Mobile optimization is crucial in today's digital landscape.

Content research

  • Relevance: Does their content align with their target audience's needs and interests?
  • Quality: Is the content well-written, informative, and engaging?
  • SEO: Are they using relevant keywords effectively to improve search engine rankings?

Call to action research

  • Clarity: Is the CTA clear, concise, and compelling?
  • Placement: Is the CTA strategically placed on the page?
  • Design: Does the CTA stand out and encourage action?

By analyzing your competitors' websites, you can gain valuable insights and identify areas where your website can improve.

Remember, the goal is not to copy their exact approach but to learn from their successes and failures to create a better experience for your visitors.

5. Call-to-Action Strategy

how to use call to action buttons

Let's dive deeper into one of the most crucial elements of your website: the call-to-action (CTA). It's not just a button or a link – it's the bridge between your visitors and your business goals.

I've seen countless beautifully designed websites fail because they didn't guide visitors to take action. Don't make that mistake! I confess I've built sites like this in the past, it's easy to do if you have no plan.

90% of visitors read your CTA copy.

Unbounce

That's huge! It means your CTAs have a captive audience. But how do you make them count?

Hopefully, you have taken my advice from the previous section and mapped out the goals of your website. What do you want visitors to do? Sign up for a newsletter? Make a purchase? Book a consultation? Each page should have a clear, primary CTA.

Call to action placement

Next, consider placement. In my experience, above-the-fold CTAs (visible without scrolling) often perform best. But don't stop there – strategically place CTAs throughout your content where they make sense.

I find the rule of 3 works well: One up top, one halfway down, and one towards the bottom of the page.

Call to action design

Now, let's talk design. Your CTA should stand out, but not clash.

Use contrasting colors, but keep it on-brand. Make buttons large enough to tap on mobile devices.

50.88% of global website traffic comes from mobile devices.

Statista

Call to action copy

But here's the real secret sauce: your CTA copy. It needs to be clear, action-oriented, and value-focused. Instead of “Submit,” try “Get My Free Guide.” Instead of “Buy Now,” consider “Start Saving Today.”

quote mark twain

“The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”

Mark Twain

This quote perfectly captures the importance of your CTA wording. Test different versions to see what resonates with your audience.

Finally, don't forget to create a sense of urgency. Limited time offers or exclusive deals can give visitors that extra push to act now rather than later.

Execute your CTAs thoughtfully, and they'll become powerful tools in your website's arsenal.

Plan Your Site as a Marketing Tool

Remember, your website isn't just a digital brochure. It's a powerful marketing tool to engage, inform, and convert visitors into customers.

By focusing on these five crucial decisions, you're setting yourself up for success in planning your website build. The goal is not just a pretty website but a tool that helps you earn income and serve people well.

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Meet the Author

Ben Coyour

As a web designer and business owner for 20 years, I built this site to help you start your own business fast and stay motivated. I also share time-saving tips to help you focus on what truly matters in life.

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